thinking of picking up a gsp but....

The forum for puffers that either live or start in brackish biotopes: GSPs, F8s, Ceylons & more.
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

...he's in semi marine water (1.024 sg) and my set up is fresh water. If i cycle my tank all over again and bring the sg to 1.005,will he be fine?
Or if i keep him in fresh water for the time being will he be ok?
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

he's about 2".
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by Pufferpunk »

Nothing "semi" marine about 1.024, that's full marine. I would set up a marine tank for him with live rock from an established system, sand & a protein skimmer. Try for a 55g.
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
User avatar
Blinkey
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Nov 15, 2014 7:47 pm
Gender: Male
My Puffers: 1x Green spotted pufferfish
Location (country): New Zealand
Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by Blinkey »

Definitely start up a marine tank from the start, as PP says. Will cut out so much stress and future hassle (when you eventually go marine anyway) for both you and the fish.
"Life, uh, finds a way"
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

well im getting media from his filter to help with the cycle. Do i need live rock now? Current owner doesn't have live rock in the set up.
He's going in a a 33G. I just sold my 75G. Won't be getting one for a while. How quick do they grow?
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

Found another GSP that's being kept in freshwater so this will be easier for me seeing that i'm not setup for brackish yet.
User avatar
sgtmyers88
Moderator
Posts: 1292
Joined: Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:37 am
Gender: Male
My Puffers: Green Spotted Puffers
Location (country): USA
Contact:

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by sgtmyers88 »

They are better off in full marine... Blinkey hit the nail on the head with his statement.
WARNING: Puffers are mischievous little blimps with enchanting powers. You may not be content with having just one.
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

The filter media i'm getting is coming from a saltwater tank with an SG of 1.024. If i use this media but have an SG of 1.015ish,would it kill off any bacteria?
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by Pufferpunk »

Yes but you could raise the SG to 1.020 & probably be OK. I do not suggest using FW filtration for long, as you will still be doing 50% weekly WC, which is a lot of $alt. SW filtration consists of LR/sand & a protein skimmer,
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

For the time being,I'd like to keep it brackish with my ac50 filter. What's the lowest sg i can have in my tank without needing a skimmer? Eventually as he grows,i'll increase the sg and look into lr and skimmers. Do they need a good powerhead also? I have one that's rated 1300gph.
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

is aragonite sand recomended for gsp or crushed coral?
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

Just an update on what i've done so far. Picking uo the gsp on monday. Today i cleared the tank of any fish ,substrate and decor i had in there. (transferred them to another tank). In my 33 Gallon tank i added 7.5 lbs of salt which should bring the sg to 1.022-23. Should i match the sg of his current home which is 1.025? or is .022 fine ? Added 2 powerheads to help dissolve the salt once it's all clear i'll add the 20 lbs of aragonite which comes with live bacteria. Upon the GSP's arrival i'll drip acclimate him over the course of the day and ad him to his new home. Keeping the temp at 78-79 F. I'll also add some filter media from the previous owners tank to help with the bacteria.....I'll add skimmer and lr later on! Will bio spira be necessary?
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by Pufferpunk »

1.022 is fine. There is nothing LIVE about bacteria in sand in a bag. I would definitely add Bio-Spira to your filter. I'd only acclimate for 30 minutes. Mix the sale with the powerheads overnight. Do you have a hydrometrer/refractometer that is calibrated?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
1st timer
Dwarf Puffer
Posts: 79
Joined: Mon Aug 22, 2016 9:07 am
Location (country): Canada

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by 1st timer »

I just checked the sg with a hydrometer and it's at 1.018. Salt is in the tank along with 2 powerheads. Should i remove the powerheads once the gsp is in the tank?
User avatar
Pufferpunk
Queen Admin
Posts: 32764
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 11:06 am
Gender: Female
My Puffers: Filbert, the 12" T lineatus
Punkster, the 4" red T miurus
Mongo, the 4" A modestus
2 T biocellatus
C valentini
C coranata
C papuan
Also kept:
lorteti
DPs
suvattii
burrfish
T niphobles
Location (country): USA, Greenville, SC
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: thinking of picking up a gsp but....

Post by Pufferpunk »

He might like them. Have you calibrated the hydrometer against a known SG or at least distilled water?
You are getting sleepy... you only hear the sound of my voice... you must do water changes... water changes... water changes... water changes...

"The solution to pollution is dilution!"
Post Reply